Masking material

ABSTRACT

The object of the present invention is to protect completely a part of an article having penetrating hole(s) from a surface treatment.  
     To attain said object, a masking member ( 1 A), having fitting part(s) ( 11 A) to fit into said hole(s) of said article, the bottom end(s) of said fitting part(s) reaching the end(s) of said hole(s), and flange(s) ( 13 A) being formed around bottom end(s) of said fitting part(s) around the circumference(s) of said hole(s), is provided. When said masking member ( 1 A) is attached to said part by fitting said fitting part(s) of said masking member ( 1 A) into said hole(s), the bottom end(s) of said fitting part(s) of said masking member ( 1 A) reach(s) the opposite side(s) of said hole(s), and flange(s) ( 3 A) around the bottom end(s) of said fitting part(s) of said masking member ( 1 A) cover(s) circumference(s) of said hole(s), to protect the inside(s) of said hole(s) from paint mist circulating around said article, and from reaching the opposite side(s) of said article, when said article is being spray coated with paint.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a masking member used to protect a partof an article upon which a surface treatment such as paint coating,plating or the like, should not be effected.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When a part of an article is to be protected from a surface treatmentsuch as paint coating, adhesive tape has generally been used to coversaid part, after which said surface treatment has been carried out.However, the attaching of said adhesive tape to said part istroublesome. To solve said problem, a masking member made of plastic hasbeen provided, said masking members (9A, 9B), each having a cylindricalfitting part (91A) as shown in FIG. 9 or a box type fitting part (9B) asshown in FIG. 10, to fit said fitting parts (91A) or (91B) into holes(22A, 22B) of the part to be protected and said masking member (9A, 9B)being attached to said parts by fitting each of said fitting parts (91A,91B) into said hole(s) (22A, 22B).

However, said conventional masking members (9A, 9B) are imperfect inthat when an article is coated with spray paint, paint mist circulatesaround said article, reaching the opposite side of said article, andcontaminating the inside(s) of said holes (22A, 22B) in which paintcoating should not be effected, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 11.

-   -   Patent Literature        -   Registered utility model No. 2566769

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

To solve said problems of said conventional masking member, the presentinvention provides a masking member (1A, 1B) to be attached to a part ofan article having penetrating hole(s) (22A, 22B), wherein said maskingmember (1A, 1B) has fitting part(s) (11A, 11B) to fit into said hole(s)(22A, 22B) and the bottom end(s) of said fitting part(s) (11A, 11B)reach(s) the opposite side(s) of said hole(s) (22A, 22B), and theflange(s) (13A, 13B) is(are) formed around bottom end(s) of said fittingpart(s) (11A, 11B) to cover the circumference(s) of said hole(s) (22A,22B).

When said masking member (1A or 1B) is attached to a part of an articleto be protected from a surface treatment, by fitting said fitting part(11A or 11B) into a hole (22A or 22B) penetrating said part, the bottomend of said fitting part (11A or 11B) reaches the opposite side of saidhole (22A or 22B) and said flange (13A or 13B) around said fitting part(11A or 11B) covers the circumference of said hole (22A or 22B) toprotect said article from paint mist circulating around it, reaching theopposite side of said article, or contaminating the inside of said hole(22A or 22B) when said article is being coated with spray paint.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of said masking member with apenetrating hole, illustrating the first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of a case in which said masking member isfitted, illustrating an altered example of the first embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of said masking member, illustrating thefirst embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of said masking member, illustrating thesecond embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a side view of said masking member, illustrating the secondembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a bumper (the member to be masked),illustrating the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows a sectional side view of a case in which said maskingmember is fitted, illustrating the second embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a conventional making member.

FIG. 9 shows a sectional view of a case in which a conventional maskingmember is fitted.

FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of a conventional masking member.

FIG. 11 shows a sectional view of a case in which a conventional maskingmember is fitted.

DESCRIPTION OF LETTERINGS

-   1A, 1B Masking Members-   11A, 11B Fitting Parts-   13A, 13B Flanges-   22A, 21B Masking Parts (Air Inlet)-   22A, 22B Penetrating Holes

PREFERED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is described precisely below.

FIGS. 1 and 2 relate to the first embodiment of the present invention.In this embodiment, a masking member (1A) is used to protect apenetrating hole such as a female screw hole (22A) passing through anarea upon which a surface treatment is to be performed.

Said masking member (1A) consists of a cylindrical body (11A) with abottom, a narrow collar (12A) formed around the opening end of saidcylindrical body (11), and a flange (13A) extending from thecircumference of the bottom side of said cylindrical body (11A).

The outer diameter d₂ of said cylindrical body (11) is settled to be alittle smaller than the diameter d₃ of said female screw hole (22A)which is protected by said masking member (1A), with the outer diameterd₁ of said flange (13A) being settled to be a little greater than thediameter d₃ of said female screw hole (22A) (d₂<d₃<d₁). Further, thelength l₁ of said masking member (1A) is settled to be a little longerthan the length l₂ of said female screw hole (2) (l₂<l₁).

As the material for said masking member, for instance, a polyolefin suchas polyethylene, polypropylene, polypropylene-polyethylene compound,ethylene-propylene copolymer, ethylene-vinyl actetate copolymer or thelike a thermoplastic engineering plastics such as polyvinyl chloridetype resin, styrenic resin, acrylic resin, methacrylic resin,polyvinylidene chloride resin, vinyl propionate resin, styrene-butadienecopolymer, thermoplastic polyester resin, thermoplastic polyamide resin,acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer(ABS), acrylonitrile-polyvinylchloride-styrene copolymer(ACS),acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene-N-phenylmaleimide copolymer,styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer,acrylonitrile-styrene-acrylate ester copolymer, methacrylicmethyl-butadiene-styrene copolymer, syndiotactic polystyrene polymerizedusing metallocene compound (SPS), isotactic polystyrene(IPS),polyacetal(POM), polysulfone(PSF), polyethersulfone(PES), polyphenyleneether(PPE), modified polyphenylene ether((Modified PPE), polyphenylenesulfide(PPS), polyarylate(PAR), polyether-etherketone(PEEK),polyamideimide(PAI), polyimide(PI), polyetherimide(PEI),polyaminobismaleimide, methylpentene copolymer(TPX) or the like; aliquid crystallic engineering plastic such as polyarylether or the like;a compressive moldability type engineering plastic of fluororesin suchas polytetrafluororthylene(PTFE) or the like; a thermoplastic plasticsor engineering plastic such as amorphous polymer,polyamindebismaleimide, bismaleimide-triazine thermoset aromaticpolyimide, acrylate rubber-acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer(AAS),acrylonitrile-ethylene/propylene rubber-styrene copolymer(AES),metallocene polypropylene, metallocene polyethylene,methylmethacrylate-butadiene-styrene copolymer(MBS), polyamide(PA),polycarbonate(PC), polyethylene terephthalate(PET),crystalline,polyethylene terephthalate, crystalline polybutyleneterephthalate or the like, is used.

Said modified PPE is a graft copolymer in which a styrenic monomer suchas styrene, α-methylstyrene, α-ethylstyrene, α-methylvinyltoluene,α-methyldialkylstyrene, o, m or p-vinyltoluene, o-ethylstyrene,p-ethylstyrene, 2,4-dimethylstyrene, o-chlorostyrene, p-chlorostyrene,o-bromstyrene, 2,4-dichlorostyrene, 2-chloro-4-methylstyrene,2,6-dichlorostyrene, vinylnaphthalene, vinylanthracene or the like isgraft polymerized to PPE, or a polymer alloy in which styrenic resinsuch as polystyrene, styrene-acrylonitrile resin,acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene resin (ABS), high impact polystyrene(HIPS), or the like is mixed in with PPE.

Said resin alone, or a polymer alloy or polymer blend of two or morekinds of said resin combined together is used as the material for saidmasking member (1A). Still more, when two or more kinds of resin areused together, a compatibility aid agent may be used to improve theresins' compatibility.

Further, a rubber-like material such as synthetic rubber, such asacrylic rubber(AR), butyl rubber(BR), silicone rubber, urethanerubber(UR), fluoride group rubber, polysufide group rubber, graftrubber, butadiene rubber(BR), isoprene rubber(IR), chloroprenerubber(CR), polyisobutylene rubber(IBR), polybutene rubber,isobutene-isoprene rubber(IIR), acrylate-butadiene rubber(ABR),styrene-butadiene rubber(SBR), acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber(NBR),pyridine-butadiene rubber(PBR), styrene-isoprene rubber(SIR),acrylonitrile-chloroprene rubber styrene-chloroprene rubber or the like;natural rubber; styrenic elastomer such as styrene-butadiene-styreneblock copolymer(SBS), styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymer(SIS),α-methylstyrene-butadiene-α-methylstyrene block copolymer(α-MeS-Bd-MeS),α-methylstyrene-isoprene-α-methylstyrene block copolymer,styrene-hydrogenated polyolefin-styrene copolymer(SEBS,SEPS) or thelike; a rubber-like substance such as polyolefin group elastomer,polyurethane group elastomer, polyester group elastomer, polyamide groupelastomer or the like, may be added to said resin as the material forsaid masking member (1A), to improve flexibility, moldability, and thelike.

A polymer blend or a polymer alloy of said engineering plastic and saidthermoplastic resin, or a polymer blend or a polymer alloy of saidengineering plastic, said thermoplastic resin, and said rubber-likematerial are preferably used as the material for said masking member(1A).

A polymer alloy of said engineering plastic and polyamide, and/orpolystyrene, and/or polypropylene is especially preferable as thematerial for said masking member.

As said polyamide, for instance, said polyamide is such as:poly(tetramethylene adipamide) (nylon 46), poly(hexamethylene adipamide)(nylon 66), polypyrrolidone (nylon 4), poly caprolactam (nylon 6),polyheptolactam (nylon 7), polycaprilactam (nylon 8), polynonanolactam(nylon 9), polyundeca 1 lactam (nylon 11), polydodeca 1 lactam (nylon12), polyhexamethylene azelaic acid amide (nylon 69), polyhexamethylenesebacic acid amide (nylon 610), polyhexamethylene phthalamide (nylon6iP), polyhexamethylene terephthalamide,polyhexamethyleneisophthalamide, polytetramethyleneisophthalamide,poly(m-xylene adipamide), nylon MSD6, polyamide consisting ofhexamethylenediamine and n-dodecanedioic acid (nylon 612), polyamideconsisting of dodecamethylenediamine and n-dodecanedioic acid (nylon1212), hexamethylene adipamide/caprolactam (nylon 66/6), hexamethyleneadipamide/hexamethyleneisophthalamide (nylon 66/nylon 6iP),hexamethylene adipamide/hexamethyleneterephthalamide (nylon 66/nylon6T), trimethylhexamethylene oxide/hexamethylene oxide(nylontrimethyl-62/62), hexamethylene adipamide/hexamethylene azelaicacid amide (nylon 66/nylon 69), hexamethylene adipamide/hexamethyleneazelaic acid amide/caprolactam (nylon 66/nylon 69/nylon 6),poly(capronamide/hexamethylene sebacic acid amide) (nylon 6/610),poly(capronamide/hexamethylenedodecanoic acid amide) (nylon 6/612),nylonMXD6, poly(capronamide/hexamethyleneisophthalamide) (nylon 6/6I),aromatic polyamide and the like is used, and as said polystyrene, bothgeneral purpose polystyrene and high impact polystyrene may be used asthe material for said masking member, however, high impact polystyreneis preferable.

Further, one or more kinds of styrenic thermoplastic elastomer is (are)used in the present invention. Said thermoplastic elastomer may includestyrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer (SBS),styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymer (SIS),α-methylstyrene-butadiene-α-methylstyrene block copolymer(α-MeS-Bd-MeS), α-methylstyrene-isoprene-α-methylstyrene blockcopolymer, styrene-hydrogenated polyolefin-styrene block copolymer(SEBS) or the like may be added to said polymer alloy.

Further, a rubber component may be added to said polymer alloy toprepare a rubber modified polymer alloy.

Furthermore, in said plastic material, a filler may be added to improvethe mechanical properties such as moldability, shape holding,dimensional stability, compression and tensile strength, and forcoloration, or the like. Said reinforcing material is such as: aninorganic filler such as calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, bariumsulphate, calcium sulphate, calcium sulfite, calcium phosphate, calciumhydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, aluminum hydroxide, magnesium oxide,titanium oxide, iron oxide, zinc oxide, alumina, silica, diatom earth,dolomite, gypsum, talc, clay, asbestos, mica, glass fiber, carbon fiber,calcium silicate, calcium carbonate, bentonite, white carbon, carbonblack, iron powder, aluminum powder, stone powder, blast furnace slag,fly ash, cement, zirconia powder or the like; natural fiber such ascotton, hemp, bamboo fiber, coconut fiber, wool and the like; organicsynthetic fiber such as polyamide fiber, polyester fiber, acrylic fiber,viscose fiber, acetate fiber, vinyl chloride fiber, vinylidene choloridefiber or the like; inorganic fiber such as asbestos fiber, glass fiber,carbon fiber, ceramic fiber, metallic fiber, whisker or the like; anorganic filler such as linter, linen, sisal, wood flour, coconut flour,walnut flour, starch, wheat flour or the like, a plasticizer such as aDOP, a DBP or the like, an antioxidant, antistatic agent,crystallization agent, flame retardant, antiflaming agent, insecticide,antiseptic, waxes, a lubricant, age resister, ultraviolet absorber,blowing agent such as a chemical blowing agent or capsule type blowingagent, or the like. Two or more kinds of said agent may be mixed witheach other and then added to said plastic material of said maskingmember.

To mold said masking member (1A), vacuum forming, pressure forming,vacuum-pressure forming, pressure molding, injection molding, or anymethod that is applicable, may be applied, and said masking member (1A)can be effectively mass-produced by the vacuum forming or pressureforming of said thermoplastic resin sheeting or film, or of said foamedthermoplastic resin sheeting or film. In addition to said plasticmaterial, thick paper, used card board, metal, fiber board, or the likemay be used as the material for said masking member (1A).

Said masking member (1A) is fitted into said female screw hole (22A)before paint coating of said part (2A). Since said masking member (1A)is made of said plastic material, or the like, and the diameter d₁ ofsaid flange (13A) is settled to be a little greater than the diameter d₃of said female screw hole (22A), when said masking member (1A) is pushedinto said female screw hole (22A), said cylindrical body (11A) and saidflange (13A) may alter elastically to fit into said female screw hole(22A) easily. Said cylindrical body (11A) and said flange (13A)elastically recover after the fitting of said masking member (1A) intosaid female screw hole (22A), said flange (13A) engaging with thecircumference of said female screw hole (22A).

Further, since the length l₂ of said cylindrical body (11A) is settledto be a little greater than the length l₂ of said female screw hole(22A), said masking member (1A) is fixed into said female screw hole(22A) by said collar (12A) and said flange (13A), so that said maskingmember (1A) will not come out of from said female screw hole, even underthe pressure of spray coating being effected on said masking member(1A).

Said part (2A), in whose female screw hole (22A) said masking member(1A) is fitted, is coated with a spray paint or the like. Since theouter diameter d₂ of said flange (13A) of said masking member (1A) issettled to be a little greter than the diameter d₃ of said female screwhole (22A), the circumference of said female screw hole (22A) iscompletely covered by said flange (13A), protecting said part (2A), fromcirculating paint mist reaching its opposite side, or entering saidfemale screw hole (22A).

After spray coating with paint, if desired, the resulting paint film onsaid part (2A) is heat dried, after which said masking member (1A) isremoved from said female screw hole (22A). When said masking member (1A)is pulled out of said female screw hole (22A), said masking member (1A)may elastically alter, so that said masking member (1A) is easilyremoved from said female screw hole (22A).

Said masking member (1A) can be used repeatedly. In this embodiment,said cylindrical body (11A) of said masking member (1A) has a bottom,but a bottomless cylindrical masking member or a cylindrical maskingmember (1A′) with openings at either end as shown in FIG. 3 can also beused in the present invention.

FIGS. 4 to 7 relate to the second embodiment of the present invention.The masking member (1B) shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is used to protect theair-inlet openings (21B) of a car bumper (2B) as shown in FIG. 6, frompaint coating.

Said car bumper (2B) has an air-inlet opening (21B) which is to beprotected by said masking member (1B), and lateral beam (23B) andlongitudinal beam (24B) extend across said air-inlet openings (21B),dividing them into four square opening parts (22B, 22B, 22B, 22B).

Said masking member (1B) consists of a body (11B) having a shallow boxshape from whose bottom four fitting parts (12B, 12B, 12B, 12B) having arectangular parallel piped box shape, are formed. The circumference ofeach fitting part (12B) is settled to be a little smaller than thecircumference of said opening part (22B) and depth l₃ of each fittingpart (12B) is settled to be a little greater than the depth l₄ of saidopening part (22B).

Further, the circumference of the bottom of each fitting part (12B)extend outward to form a flange (13B) and the circumference of eachflange (13B) is settled to be a little greater than the circumference ofsaid opening part (22B).

Said masking member (1B) is made of the same material as in the firstembodiment and manufactured using the same method as in the firstembodiment.

To attach said masking member (1B) to said air-inlet opening (21B), saidbody (11B) of said masking member (1B) is fit into said air-inletopening (21B) snugly, said fitting parts (12B, 12B, 12B, 12B) of saidmasking member (1B) each fitting into said opening parts (22B, 22B, 22B,22B).

Since each fitting part (12B) is made of plastic or the like and thecircumference of each flange (13B) is settled to be a little greaterthan the circumference of said opening part (22B), when said fittingpart (12B) with said flange (13B) is pushed into said opening part(22B), said fitting part (12B) with said flange (13B) may elasticallyalter, so that said fitting part (12B) with said flange (13B) is easilyfitted into said opening part (22B).

Further, since the depth l₃ of each fitting part (12B) is settled to bea little greater than the depth l₄ of said opening part (22B), when saidfitting part (12B) is fitted into said opening part (22B), said fittingpart (12B) with said flange (13B) elastically recover, with said flange(13B) engaging with the circumference of said opening part (22B).Accordingly each fitting part (12B) is fixed firmly into said openingpart (22B), so that said masking member (1B) will not come out of saidair-inlet hole (21B), even when spray pressure is exerted on saidmasking member (1B) during paint coating.

Said bumper (2B), to which said masking member (1B) is attached, iscoated with paint. Since said flange (13B) is formed around thecircumference of the bottom end of each fitting part (12B) of saidmasking member (1B), with the circumference of said flange (13B) settledto be a little greater than that of said opening part (22B), thecircumference of each opening part (22B) is completely covered by saidflange (13B).

Said bumper (2B), to which said masking member (1B) is attached, iscoated with a spray paint or the like, the backside of said bumper (2B),and opening part (22B) being protected from circulating paint mistcontamination by said flange (13B).

After coating, said masking member (1B) is removed by pulling it out ofsaid air-inlet opening (21B). When said masking member is pulled out ofsaid air-inlet opening (21B), each fitting part (12B) and flange (13B)may elastically alter so that said masking member (1B) can be easilyremoved from said air-inlet to opening (21B) of said bumper (2B).

Said masking member (1B) of the present invention can be usedrepeatedly.

The masking member of the present invention should not be limited onlyto the masking members in said embodiment, and any masking membersatisfying the necessary structural conditions of the present invention,and made of any kind of material can be used in the present invention,the masking member of the present invention being applicable to protectany kind of article having penetrating holes.

INDUSTRIAL UTILITY

By using the masking member of the present invention, the hole(s)penetrating said article is (are) completely protected from surfacetreatment.

1. A masking member attached to a part of an article having hole(s)penetrating said part wherein said masking member has fitting part(s) tofit into said hole(s) and the bottom end(s) of said fitting part(s)reach(s) the opposite side(s) of said hole(s) and flange(s) is(are)formed around bottom end(s) of said fitting part(s) to cover thecircumference(s) of said hole(s).